UPDATE #4:

The NRC has issued a fairly rare Sunday press release.  As reported in evacuationplans.org, the document begins:

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission launched a special inspection Sunday into the circumstances surrounding Friday’s leak in one of the cooling towers at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in Vernon, Vt., sending structural specialists to the plant.  The inspectors will begin work at the site Monday.

UPDATE #3:

Two updates.  First, the plant is apparently operating at 25%.  Furthermore, VT Yankee spokesman Rob Williams told the associated press (coming to us via the Rutland Herald) that:

“It appears that that broken or degraded bracket was not due to decay but appears to be related to stresses in the design of the new interface between the bracket and the previously replaced column in that area.”

Now, I’m not sure whether we should believe Williams or not, but the idea that the current problems are caused because they didn’t know how to fix the previous problems just sort of fits.

Here’s the rest of the story, as it was posted over the weekend:

Okay– this is what I understand to be going on: VY is operating at 40% 47% under 50% capacity (I keep hearing different numbers, but they’re all in the 40-50% range) due to some serious problems in the cooling towers.  Here’s Symington’s statement:

How many more times will we have to learn about maintenance issues at Vermont Yankee before Jim Douglas presents a plan for transitioning to other sources of power if this aging plant has to be shut down?

After last year’s collapse in part of the cooling system at Vermont Yankee, we were assured that a full-scale review was done of the wooden support structures and the problem had been fixed. Yet here we are again dealing with rotting wood in the cooling system. How can Vermonters have confidence in the ability of Entergy to maintain that plant if the same failures keep occurring?

Vermont’s business community needs to know that this major source of power is reliable. Vermonters need to know that it is safe. This incident underlines the need to have an independent assessment of Vermont Yankee and raises further questions about the wisdom of continuing to rely so heavily on it as major part of our power supply.

Here’s a report which hasn’t been posted online yet, but was forwarded via a whistleblower.  If I can find a clear link I’ll update it later, but here’s what I’ve got.  This version had typos in it (which I’ve corrected) which suggest it’s a preliminary draft and is not perfect in this version.

CR-VTY-2008-02904

Damage to East Cooling Tower Celll CT-1-1

During routine monthly inspections of the cooling towers, the Auxiliary Operator reported observation of some structural degradation to the distribution piping on East side of CT-1-1. The distribution piping appears to be sagging and significant leakage was observed from slip-fit joint adjacent to where where the distribution piping enters the cell from the inlet riser pipe.

A number of saddle supports for the distribution piping in this area were observed to be damaged. Because of these observations the decision was made to reduce reactor power and take the East cooling tower out of service. Open cycle operation of the circulating water system was established and the inlet riser valves to the East cooling tower (CW-6A/B) were closed to isolate flow to the tower.

Inspections of the West cooling tower revealed additional damage to some of the saddles which support the distribution pipe in CT-2-3 and CT-2-4.. There was NO damage observed in either CT-2-1 or CT-2-2. Therefore, it [shall] be concluded that safety-related CT-2-1 is structurally sound and fully operable at this time..

This is a developing story.  As soon as we know more, we’ll post it.

I also find it interesting that just because there’s “no damage observed,” it’s suggested that CT-2-1 is fully sound and operational.  How long was damage not observed in the other towers before they got taken down?

In the meantime, I will just note that, yet again, we’re dealing with a major problem that’s forcing us to purchase power from out of state while Entergy fails to maintain basic standards of quality at its own plant.

It’s time we find a new power source for this state.  It’s been time for some time now.

UPDATE: more from other news sources below the fold.

The Brattleboro Reformer covered this today.  Here’s a choice quote:

Whether there is a sag in the distribution platform or if any structural members have collapsed, wrote Williams, is still under investigation. It is also unclear how long the pipe had been leaking, he stated.

I’m beginning to suspect that Williams got his PR training the same place that Jason Gibbs did.

Continuing in the reformer, Shumlin nails it:

“To me,” said Shumlin, “this is further evidence that Entergy Louisiana does not do business in the best tradition of the way we do business in Vermont. They tell you what they want to hear but (their talk) rarely matches the facts.”

Update #2: And here’s a choice quote from the Rutland Herald:

Vermont Yankee was at 46 percent power late Friday, and company spokesman Robert Williams said the plant was relying on water from the nearby Connecticut River to cool the plant’s condensers. He said the leak was discovered Friday morning during a regular inspection.

Williams only released information about the leak in the east tower and failed to mention the problems in the west tower, which partially collapsed last August.

How many more times will we have to learn about maintenance issues at Vermont Yankee before Jim Douglas presents a plan for transitioning to other sources of power if this aging plant has to be shut down?

Vermont’s business community needs to know that this major source of power is reliable. Vermonters need to know that it is safe. This incident underlines the need to have an independent assessment of Vermont Yankee and raises further questions about the wisdom of continuing to rely so heavily on it as major part of our power supply.

(How did a VY leak go under the radar??? – promoted by Christian Avard)

Small Leak Found in Vt. Yankee Cooling Tower

July 11, 2008

Vermont Yankee is operating at half its power because of a leak in a cooling tower. Plant officials say they discovered the leak Friday morning during a routine inspection. Officials are calling it a small leak of river water. They say it is not in the same cooling tower that collapsed last summer, but repairs were done at that time on both towers. The towers cool river water after it has been warmed in the plants steam condenser, it then returns to the river.  

Vermont Yankee does not know how long it will take to repair the new problem.

“This is a huge disappointment,” said Steve Wark, spokesman for the state Department of Public Service. “We were told the system was analyzed and this would not happen again. It calls into question their system maintenance program.” WCAX  my emphasis

Entergy’s Aging Vermont Yankee made unexpected record profits recently .The Gov.vetoed the bill for full decommissioning funding .The Gov.only reluctantly signed on to the Vertical Safety study .Only last week he criticized two appointments made by Democrats to that group. Today DPS’s Warks statement sounds like a FEMA flunky.Douglas’s full embrace of Entergy is a potent campaign issue waiting in plain site.  

I came across this surreal and shocking interview at Crooks & Liars. It was conducted by a tenacious reporter from Ireland, Carol Coleman. Coleman works for Radio Television Ireland and did an amazing interviews with George W. Bush. It was conducted before the 2004 election and all of a sudden, it just surfaced out of thin air. Apparently it never made the United States…. but many in Ireland saw it. Had Americans actually seen this prior to the 2004 election when it aired, Bush would not be president. That’s what Crooks & Liars say. Woulda, coulda, shoulda. Did somebody back home suppress this? Who? How?

Watch for yourself and enjoy the weekend!

UPDATE: Ben Cohen of Huffington Post (not B & J ice cream) wrote this great piece yesterday re: the interview.

From CBS:

“This is a Judiciary Committee matter, and I believe we will some attention being paid to it by the Judiciary Committee,” Pelosi told reporters. “Not necessarily taking up the articles of impeachment because that would have to be approved on the floor, but to have some hearings on the subject.“

Uh-huh.

Sorry, we’re still pissed off about FISA.

Nice try, though. Points for pulling out a real A-list netroots topic-changer…

(This is fascinating… – promoted by odum)

A locally based consortium of 23 towns working to create a high-speed Internet network announced yesterday that it has reached an agreement with a New York investment bank to raise the estimated $85 million needed to build the project.

East Central Vermont Community Fiber Network, known as ECFiber, will contract with New York-based Oppenheimer & Co. to find private investors to back the construction of the network. Investors will recoup their money, plus interest, through fees from eventual subscribers, said state Rep. Jim Masland, D-Thetford, who serves on the organization’s board.

Masland said Oppenheimer has estimated the fundraising will be completed by October, but ECFiber officials say they are taking a more cautious tack and hope that the money will be in the bank by the end of the year.

ECFiber officials expect to begin hooking households up to the fiber-optic network within a year of completing their financing.

(ECFiber Says N.Y. Bank Will Raise Money for Valley Broadband, Valley News, 07/11/08)

Vermont’s Obama campaign staff will be holding organizing meetings around the state over the next few weeks, some in conjunction with County Dem meetings.

In keeping with the 50 State Strategy, focus is not solely on helping Barack Obama, but on building a strong volunteer base to help elect all Democratic candidates.

Join Obama for America Vermont staff and local Obama supporters as we

discuss how to help elect Barack Obama and the rest of the Democratic

ticket. Learn how to get involved, pick up Obama gear, and become a part of

our historic movement and campaign for change! If you have any questions,

feel free to contact Morganne at 802-651-7151 or mpollie@barackobama.com

Monday, July 14th

Windsor County Democrats Meeting

Damon Hall

1 Queechee Rd, Hartland

7PM

Online signup: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4gr4k

Wednesday, July 16th

Rutland County for Obama Organizational Meeting

Fox Room of the Rutland Free Library

10 Court St, Rutland

7PM

Online signup: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4gr27

Thursday, July 17th

Chittenden County for Obama Organizational Meeting

Fletcher Free Library

235 College St, Burlington

7PM

Online signup: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4grh7

Monday, July 21st

Addison County for Obama Organizational Meeting

Carol’s Hungry Mind Café

24 Merchants Row, Middlebury

7PM

Online Signup: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4gr3l

Monday, July 21st

Lamoille County Democrats Meeting

Hyde Park Clerk’s Office

344 VT Rte 15 W, Hyde Park

7PM

Online Signup: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4gr54

Wednesday, July 23rd

Washington County for Obama Organizational Meeting

Kellogg-Hubbard Free Library

135 Main St, Montpelier

7PM

Online Signup: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4gvvz

Monday, July 28th

Bennington County for Obama Organizational Meeting

Bennington Free Library

101 Silver St, Bennington

7PM

Online Signup: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4gr5r

(I think this is is a well-written diary that could generate some really interesting responses. Well done UY!   – promoted by Christian Avard)

It will be a loooong one.  

One score and fourteen years ago, I was a college student, home for the summer.  When I wasn’t working, I was on the floor of my parent’s living room, sprawled out watching TV, glued to the news and the Watergate hearings.   The Nixon administration, despite their November 1972 mandate, was twisting in the wind; for us political junkies, it was great theater.  And come that August, I was glad to see him go, a happy ending.

And I howled inside when Ford let him off.  Outside too.  To put it mildly, I was quite indignant.   I, along with many others, wanted to see “justice done”, which is a catch-all phrase which usually – for me, I won’t speak for you – includes fantasies of revenge, public humiliation, and often enough, taking the sumbitches down to the beach and shooting them, like they did in Liberia in 1980, and leaving them for the high tide.  Suffice to say, there is a part of me that wants my ‘pound of flesh’, likes the idea of ‘an eye for an eye’, (or at the very least, a pie in the eye).  Hey, I’m a primate.   Would I do it?  No.  Probably not.  

George Walker Bush’s administration has left their skidmarks all over our Constitution.  Bypassing the FISA courts is just one of many of those skidmarks.  They are without a doubt guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors as outlined in Article II Section 4 of the Constitution they keep wiping their butts on.  By and through them, monumental injustices have been perpetrated against Americans and innocents all over the world.  

But, let’s face it – the injustices and lawbreaking started with the man’s very (s)election in 2000, and they have continued pretty much unabated and certainly unchecked ever since.  (Since 2000, two Vermonters have been in a position to follow their oaths and defend the Constitution – Bernie Sanders (until 2006) and Peter Welch – by indicting/impeaching Bush and/or his many slimy cronies as members of the House that have that authority.  Both would rather read the polls than follow their sworn oaths.)  

Please note that Obama didn’t make it to Washington until 2005.   By that time, the horses were long out of the barn.  Bush had had a full term of trashing and shitting on the Constitution, and the American people had just asked for more.   We were four-plus years into Constitutional freefall.   Note that the American people were – and are – complicit in the trashing of the Constitution.  These are all our duly elected (and/or selected) “leaders”, such as they are.

(This is not the first time in our history that we’ve had leadership that threw the Constitution out the window, exploiting fears and panics of the people – Red Scares in the 1950s and the 19 teens and 20s, and New England’s own John Adams come to mind.  But this is where we are, in the middle of one of those periods.)

Lots more below the fold.

Obama sees his job as – first – talking us back from the ledge, the abyss.  That’s his higher form of defending the Constitution and what he sees as the American Way, since the problem is not the trampling of the Constitution, but the failure of the people to do anything about it.  

I take him at his word that he will revisit the FISA mess if elected.  He, so far, has shown himself to be a brilliant strategist, he constantly reframes issues in a larger context of hope and opportunity.  

Tellingly, he’s even tried to engage the fundamentalists in dialog – including some of our sickest most scared people, people with a fear based worldview and an an active belief in an “end of the world” eschatology.   But fundamentalists are people too, and for better or worse (usually worse), our fellow Americans.   He’s talking them (and us, since they can take us there) back from the edge, trying to engage not their fear and insanity, but our hopes, our common humanity.

It’s hard hard work.   There remains a huge portion – perhaps the voting majority, come November we’ll see – of Americans mired in their fear, their prejudices, their thirst for blood and vengeance, their vicarious love of war.   Some of them will hold on to that no matter what.  But we can’t give up, because the alternative for the planet – a crazy sick people with a crazy sick leadership with crazy sick weapons capability – is not good.

Back to 1974.  To Nixon.  To Ford’s pardon.

I didn’t get my “pound of flesh”.  Vengeance was not mine, or anyone else’s.  It pissed me off, for a long time.

We must brace ourselves for the likelihood, the probability, that we will never get our “pound of flesh” from the Bush administration perpetrators.  

As progressives, we are wired to be outraged by injustice, but “vengeance” is not supposed to be our thing.  (In New England and the northeast, they build ‘reformatories’, and ‘penitentiaries’ and ‘corrections facilities’.  Other places, they build ‘prisons’.)

Somewhere in Vermont, Michael Jacques sits alone in a cell.  Some Vermonters have been exercising their revenge fantasies, some more than others.  I’m sure there have been plenty of talk radio calls that have gone something like this “just give me 20 minutes with him” or “stick him in the general population, let them take care of him”.  

But Michael Jacques is a sick sick man, not well wired for decency or compassion, and probably not well wired for guilt and shame.   He is where he needs to be, keep him there and he is not a threat to anyone.  Anything else we do to him is vengeance.

George Bush is a sick sick man, too.  On many levels, his crimes are every bit as foul as Jacques’.  Like Jacques, he is poorly wired for guilt and shame and dealing with reality in general.  But the underlying – and much more immediate – problem is not his criminality, his sociopathy, it is the fear and vengeance in the heart of the American electorate.  

There’s a gun to the head of our republic.  Obama is asking us for the gun, asking us to live in a different future, one unstuck from old paradigms of right-left blue-red, etc. etc, etc, ad anauseum.

I am realizing that “yes we can” is a lifeline – a lifeline of hope.  Hope.  

He’s throwing it our way.  But we have to swim for it, and it will probably mean dropping our desire for revenge – and finding other ways to slake our thirst for justice, at least for the short run – if we want to reach the rope of hope and the peaceful shore…

From today's Argus:

Gov. James Douglas said Thursday that the state should consider all the options in reforming its sex offender laws, including chemical castration and reinstating the death penalty.

Douglas, a Republican up for reelection this year, said he would immediately call for a special legislative session if he believed lawmakers would seriously consider a package of possible reforms in how Vermont prosecutes and retains sex offenders…

Douglas suggested several options that he thought should be considered, including Jessica's Law, civil commitment, strengthening the state's sex offender registry, the return of the death penalty to Vermont and chemically castrating sex offenders.

“I think all of those ideas should be on the table,” Douglas said. “We need to look at all the options.”

Undoubtedly, this is a reaction to the Brooke Bennett tragedy.As the discussions on odum's recent post on the death penalty illustrated,  most GMD'ers are vehemently against the death penalty in all circumstances. As one of the few dissenters on that matter, I still think this is a bad idea, because regardless of the moral issues at stake here, this gesture from Douglas is reactionary, as well as has a bit of the whiff of election year politics. Allan Gilbert of the VT ACLU says as much:

“I'm not surprised that people are stuck on feelings of vengeance toward a person accused of a horrible crime,” Gilbert said. “But these seem to be political responses to vexing problems.”

As usual, Douglas is blaming the legislature, when the problem apparently lies within the Dept of Corrections, at least in regards to the Bennett matter. There is no doubt in my mind, however, that the sex offender laws in this state need to be toughened, but if Douglas is going to try to accomplish that by putting unreasonable demands and package deals, and then blaming it all on the legislature, we will get nowhere, and ultimately, it is the children of Vermont who will pay the price.

There’ve been a lot of rambling philosophical threads on this site of late. That’s not to say there isn’t news going on… lots actually, but we seem to be in a philosophical mood this week, so here’s one more…

A lot of the previous thread skirts around the idea of what voting is for, at least as far as an individual is concerned. It’s a question I don’t spend much time with, even though its at the crux of whether or not many people will engage with and/or support a third party candidate such as Anthony Pollina or Ralph Nader (for my part, the reason I don’t do third party is more about what I see as the structure of the system than the purpose of voting).

For many, you are obliged to vote for the candidate that most reflects your own views, and that anything short of that is a betrayal of the system. Many would say that voting against one candidate, as opposed to for one, is also a perversion of the system.

I tend to step back as far as I can with these things to get as close to bland neutrality as I can, which is why the view my wife shared with me yesterday really resonated: the purpose of voting is to have an influence in who is selected. Period. I like that because it minimizes the sort of subjective romanticism that is so often the direction the argument goes between Democrats and non-Democrats on the left. We simply vote to have some say in who our leaders are. If you choose not to vote, you’re choosing not to have a say in the process. If you choose to vote against someone, rather than for someone, you’re choosing to exercise influence in the matter of who shouldn’t get the job.

Others…?